Mohammad Kaif feels the controversial caught and bowled decision that went in favour of Kevin Pietersen could well be the turning point of the first Test.
"The decision was the turning point of the game, I would say. After that Pietersen played a good knock and got the momentum going for their team. The situation that they are in now after the end of day four, I think it could have been the turning point," Kaif told reporters in Nagpur on Saturday, after play ended on day 4.
In the 48th over, Pietersen, on 36, played forward to Kumble, got the toe end of the bat on the ball, which scooped into Kumble's hands, but third umpire I Shivram, after a few replays, hit the green button to signal not out.
Asked how he felt about the catch, Kaif replied: "I am not sure. It's the umpire's decision, and we have to stick to whatever they say. We thought it was a catch so we appealed, but the umpire said no."
Pietersen went to score a quick 87 from 110 balls, inclusive of 14 boundaries and a six, to give England the much-needed push in their quest for quick runs.
"It was not a great day for us, but they played well. I thought Pietersen's knock was very crucial. He got the momentum going for his team as he scored the runs very quickly, which helped their team.
"[Alastair] Cook played a good sensible knock. Coming to India and scoring a hundred in his first Test match, I think, full credit to him," said the Uttar Pradesh right-hander.
India didn't help their cause either, spilling as many as five catches.
England are sitting pretty on 297 for 3, an overall lead of 367 runs, with a full day's play in hand to have a go at the Indian batsmen.
"Dropped catches don't help any team. We have to bat well. We were in this situation before. We have good, experienced players, have done well in the last 12 months. We have to go out there and bat well. England will come hard at us because they have the runs on the board, but we will have to play well and play sensibly," the 25-year-old said.
Kaif, who led Uttar Pradesh to their maiden Ranji Trophy title this season, said his domestic form helped him a lot. He played four matches in the final stages of the tournament, scoring 478 runs at 79.66, with a highest of 109 in the all-important final against Bengal.
"The way I have been playing in domestic matches that certainly helped coming into this Test match. It was crucial for me to play well; the kind of situation that I had to be there and get some partnership going. And it happened. Anil Kumble also played well," he said.
He said the disciplined bowling by debutant England spinner Monty Panesar worked wonders for England.
"Panesar is not a big turner of the ball, but he is very accurate and he keeps the ball in the right areas, creates pressure and forces the batsmen to make mistakes."
Kaif has been in international cricket for six years, since making his debut against South Africa in March 2000. While he is regular member of the one-day team, he has struggled to make an impact in Tests, having figured in just eight before this.
The innings of 91 that rescued India in the first innings is his highest score in the longer version of the game.
"It's been a tough journey so far, especially when it comes to Test matches for me; but no regrets. I have been playing well; just a matter of getting a couple of opportunities in a row. I mean, if you give anyone a chance you need to give them a couple of opportunities in a row and give him time to prove themselves," Kaif said.
He said that there is a good chance that England could declare straight away tomorrow morning.
"They got enough runs, so they might declare. Whatever comes we have to be ready for that."
He praised the visitors, saying they outplayed India so far in this match.
"I thought they played well so far in this Test. They bowled well, they got their line and length right, they fielded well. They started well with the bat, scoring nearly 400 in the first innings and then getting the opposition out for less than 350.
"They bowled well, keep things tight from the start. They have played well so far in this Test. We got to start afresh tomorrow and look to do well," said Kaif.
However, he was confident that India could bounce back from this precarious situation.
"We have a good combination and we have done well before. In Pakistan we fought well and batted well under pressure. If you are chasing a score of around 600 in the first innings, there is tremendous pressure, but we came back well, fought back well there.
"We are very confident that tomorrow we can bat well and sensibly. We will look to do well tomorrow and take the momentum into the next match in Mohali," he added.
He said India does not need to fear the pitch, which could be expected to provide a bit more assistance to the spinners tomorrow.
"Nothing alarming, slow and low turn a bit. But they played well; we dropped a few catches. We have to go out there tomorrow and play positive cricket and look to bat sensibly."
